In the food truck business, one can’t just stack boxes of packed cooked food, put it in any kind of truck and sell them as you drive around. That would be illegal and land you in a lot of trouble. In the first place, one of the regulations regarding the food truck business is that the food has to be cooked in the truck before serving. The main reason is because sanitary and health officers cannot enter your home and check your kitchen set-up so they are strict about enforcing this rule.

This means that every food truck must be equipped with the right kitchen, cooking, and storage necessities like hot and cold running water, a refrigerator, and an oven, fryer, or microwave – whatever is required to cook the food you plan to serve.

Most food trucks are step vans where an adult can stand upright while inside the van. If you are planning to buy a used truck, look for a Grumman-Olson or Chevy step van. You might come across some commercial step vans that are being de-commissioned like those from FedEx and DHL and you can convert these to a food truck.

If you must have detailed specifics, the truck should be gas, not diesel, 14 feet in length and 9 feet in width. It’s also important that you do not buy a used truck that has gone over 100,000 miles because that’s just asking for trouble. If you have someone in mind to fix up the truck, take him along when you are in the final stages of buying the truck. This person can measure, fit, and discuss with you the cost of refurbishing and fixing up the truck for you. Keep in mind that the person or company you choose to fix up the truck should be knowledgeable about local health codes and the intricacies required of a food truck.

On the other hand, if you would rather not go through the hassle of buying and fixing up a used truck, there are companies that sell brand new food trucks which they can customize for your needs. It’s going to cost a lot more but it will definitely eliminate the stress of converting an old truck.